Main Story
- Researching Key Issues in African LawRecently, the Chair for African Legal Studies hosted a seminar on key issues in African law. The seminar focused on key emerging legal issues on the African continent, addressing topical questions ranging from human rights, sustainability governance, regional integration, constitutionalism to comparative law. Interesting guest lecturers presented their field of research, followed by vivid discussions. Please check out the videos below to belatedly participate in this seminar.
- Struggling for an Anti-Racist WorldCOMMENT Prof. Dr. Thoko Kaime 01 May 2021 Throughout May 2021, the Chair of African Legal Studies focuses on anti-racism through its dedicated blog at africalegalstudies.blog. In this short comment which prefaces the series, I reflect on how I see the place of black people and people of colour in this most important of struggles going forward. To build an anti-racist world, it goes without saying that the voices of those upon whom racial violence has been unleashed must be heard. This might…
Politics
- Is Civil War Coming to Somalia?COMMENT René Brosius 28 April 2021 The conflict over elections in Somalia[1] , which has been ongoing since last summer, has reached the next stage of escalation. Internationally mediated talks between the government, whose term has constitutionally expired[2] and the National Salvation Council (NSC), consisting of the presidential candidates, the prime ministers of Jubbaland and…
- Somalia vs. Kenya – The maritime border disputeCOMMENT René Brosius 09 April 2021 Somalia and Kenya do not have a tension-free relationship. Many reasons for this lie in the conflict-ridden history. The border between the two countries is a disputed colonial legacy. Large ethnic Somali minorities still live on Kenya’s territory, especially in the so-called North Eastern Province. The majority of the…
- Encouraging Renewable Energy Deployment in Kenya – Analysing the Legal and PoliticalToolsANALYSIS Hannah Kadner 12 March 2021 Kenya 2030 – a mission (almost) accomplished. A mission designed to address the issue of insufficient energy supply in the East African country. Considering that Kenya is a so-called developing country (ranking 147th of 189 on the Human Development Index, in 2019) this aim of Kenya`s former president Mwai…
Human Rights
- Climate Change, Migration, and the Incompliance with Human RightsCOMMENT Merlin Mitschker 19 March 2021 Climate change affects everyone and everything, including human beings. Throughout the world, we can see various developments and the forms of climate change materialization differ. In some affected territories, the accumulated precipitation is falling, and the land is becoming too dry to till. Therefore, crops will wither rising. Sea…
- The Right to Vote for Everyone?ANALYSIS Melanie Schwarzfischer 19 February 2021 In Zambia every citizen over the age of eighteen years has the right to vote, unless he or she is explicitly disqualified by Parliament (Article 75 (1) of the Constitution). However, not every citizen has equal opportunities to conduct their votes. Especially people with disabilities are disadvantaged because of…
- Tourism-related land rights conflicts in Namibia – the Etosha Case: Tsumib v. Government of the Republic of NamibiaCOMMENT Lisa Strube 6 November 2020 Nowadays, it is undisputed that tourism does not only bring positive aspects. Specifically in countries of the Global South, the tourism sector often hides a high potential for conflicts. Imbalanced power relations between the individual actors are the dark side of the travel industry and often lead to human…
Elections
- Constitutional Crisis in Somalia – Democratic, Free and Fair Elections?ANALYSIS René Brosius 10 February 2021 The upcoming presidential elections in Somalia are dominated by the debate on free and fair elections, a debate that brought the country to the brink of civil war. While the states of Puntland, Jubbaland as well as the united opposition in the country insist that the president’s term has…
- Somalia before the elections – From democratic election to dangerous selection processANALYSIS René Brosius 22 January 2021 On 9 January 2021, Somalia’s Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble surprised everyone by announcing that the planned elections would only be held in certain parts of the country. According to Article 1 (1) of Somalia’s provisional constitution, the country is “a federal, sovereign, and democratic republic founded on inclusive…
- The Rules of the Game – How the Elections in Uganda are wonCOMMENT Carsten Möller 14 January 2021 The rulebook of the popular card game “Munchkin” includes only a few rules. One states, “Any other disputes should be settled by loud arguments, with the owner of the game having the last word.”[1] What might cause hilarious disputes amongst friends can result in tragedy if the game is…